Government of Alberta ■ BUDGET2009 BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTH Government of Alberta Strategic Business Plan www.alberta.ca ISBN (print) 978-0-7785-5715-9 ISBN (electronic) 978-0-7785-5716-6 Copyright © 2009 GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN THE VISION “An innovative and prosperous province where Albertans enjoy a high quality of life built on vibrant communities and a healthy environment.” BUDGET2009 BUILDING ON OUR STRENGTH 2009-12 GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from University of Alberta Libraries https://archive.org/details/budget00albe_0 MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER Alberta finds itself in a period of g lobal economic turmoil and great uncertainty in the world’s financial markets. It is clear we are facing an economic downturn that will significantly impact our country and province. Yet thanks to the foresight and hard work of Albertans, our province also has considerable financial resources to weather the storm. Alberta was in the best position as the world entered this recession - and our goal must be to ensure Alberta is in the best position coming out. That combination of realism and confidence - maintaining our commitment to the future - form the basis of the government’s strategic plan for supporting a strong and sustained economic recovery. This is the time to get good value for the taxpayer’s dollar, keep people working, and build the public infrastructure we will need when growth returns. And return it will. We have the world’s second largest proven oil reserves - a fact now widely acknowledged. We are also one of the very few places in the world in a position to substantially increase secure, responsible, environmentally sustainable energy production: energy the world will need if w e are going to make a strong recovery. The international investment in Alberta over recent years was recognition of our province’s growing importance to continental energy security. That importance has not diminished, and we can be confident that investment will return. Against this background, the government has developed a plan to protect Albertans from the worst effects of the economic downturn - while seizing the opportunity to position our province for a return to long-term stability and prosperity. • First, we will be prudent and realistic in managing Alberta’s finances, controlling spending and drawing on our emergency savings to cushion the impact of the downturn. • Second, we will focus on the programs Albertans value most - health care and education - and support families, seniors, and those on fixed incomes. • Third, we will continue to invest in public infrastructure - building for the future - and we will remain committed to our plan to create a powerful and diverse economy. • And fourth, we will maintain a strong presence on the world stage, defend our export markets and promote our province and its p roducts to a global market. This is a plan that draws on the many strengths our province enjoys. It focuses on the government’s long-term, strategic goals of g reening our growth, building our quality of life, and creating and protecting our opportunities. These are difficult times, but I am certain our province will meet the challenges we face with the same confidence and determination Albertans have demonstrated throughout our history. Circumstances change, but our goal must be the same: a prosperous future and a world class quality of life. I b elieve that is the forward looking approach Albertans want us to take. Ed Stelmach Premier 2009-12 GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Purpose . 1 Vision for the Future - Prosperity, Sustainability & Community . 1 Shared Values Support Our Vision . 1 Alberta Today . 2 Long-term Strategic Plan - Building Tomorrow . 4 Five Government Priorities . 8 Working Together . 12 Being Accountable to .Albertans . 12 2009-12 Government Business Plan . 13 Core Business: Agriculture, Resource Management and Economic Development . 14 Goal 1 - Alberta will have a prosperous economy Core Business: Education . 18 Goal 2 - Albertans will be well prepared for lifelong learning Core Business: Environment . 21 Goal 3 - The high quality of Alberta’s environment will be sustained Core Business: General Government . 24 Goal 4 - Alberta will have a financially stable, open and accountable government and maintain its strong position nationally and internationally Core Business: Health . 28 Goal 3 — Albertans will be healthy Core Business: Human Support Services and Housing . 31 Goal 6 - Albertans will be independent and our children will be well cared for Core Business: Protection of Persons and Property . 36 Goal 7 - Alberta will be a safe place to live, work and raise families Core Business: Recreation and Culture . 40 Goal 8 - Albertans will have the opportunity to enjoy the province’s natural, historical and cultural resources Core Business: Regional Planning and Development . 43 Goal 9 - Alberta will have strong and effective municipalities and self-reliant Aboriginal communities Core Business: Transportation, Communications and Utilities . 46 Goal 1 0 - Alberta will have effective and efficient transportation infrastructure Appendix Expense by Goal by Core Business . 48 Expense by Goal by Ministry, 2009-10 Estimates . 48 2009-12 GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN v PURPOSE The Government of A lberta Strategic Business Plan sets out the vision, values and long-term strategic plan for the Government of Alberta. It outlines the government’s five priorities and the key strategies for 2009-12 for each priority area. It also includes the three-year business plan, which provides further detail on the government’s goals, strategies, and measures used to track results. VISION FOR THE FUTURE - PROSPERITY, SUSTAINABILITY & COMMUNITY “An innovative and prosperous province where Albertans enjoy a high quality of life built on vibrant communities and a healthy environment.” Our vision for the future is of a province where all Albertans are empowered with a spirit to achieve and the freedom to create. An Alberta where we come together as a community to ensure all Albertans, especially the most vulnerable members of our communities, can reach their full potential. An Alberta where we work together as stewards of Alberta’s natural beauty and resources, and where sustained economic growth leads to continued prosperity and realized opportunity. Individuals, communities, industry, municipalities and nonprofit organizations all have an important role to play in achieving our vision for Alberta. Government leadership provides the framework - the fiscal, economic, social and environmental direction that will position Alberta to respond to opportunities and address challenges. Together, we can achieve our vision. SHARED VALUES SUPPORT OUR VISION The strength of our province lies in its p eople. Our vision for our province builds on the shared values that Albertans hold. These values provide the context for all of the government’s priorities and actions. • Leadership - recognize and build on Alberta’s extensive opportunities and continue to build Alberta’s positive reputation in Canada and worldwide; • Entrepreneurship - continue Alberta’s proud pioneering history with a continuous quest for innovation and excellence; • Stewardship - preserve and manage air, water and land to ensure long-term sustainability of the environment within which Albertans live, work and play; • Self-reliance - build on Albertans’ desire to maximize their own potential and achievements; • Community Spirit - maintain a strong sense of identity, responsibility, solidarity, caring and commitment to family and the greater community; and • Openness - a generosity of spirit and willingness to embrace diversity of p eople and of ideas. 2009-12 GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN 1 ALBERTA TODAY Alberta continues to be recognized around the world as a great place to live, work, visit and invest. Alberta has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources, natural beauty and hard-working, community- oriented dynamic people. Albertans have built a province that has been at the forefront of economic growth in Canada and has attracted people from all over the country and the world because it is a place where people can pursue their dreams and create their own opportunities. The province has built a reputation in Canada and around the world as an innovative entrepreneurial leader. With dramatic changes and on-going uncertainty in the global economy, Alberta is facing new challenges and, with this, new opportunities. Our strategic plan will support Albertans by building on the foundation established in the past and addressing current challenges, exploring new opportunities and moving forward with clear direction and purpose. Alberta is well-positioned to face global economic challenges and continue its significant contributions to the Canadian economy. Alberta has experienced tremendous economic growth in recent years, but the province is not immune to external economic forces. After a prolonged period of strong growth, the global financial crisis has triggered a worldwide economic recession. As a result, equity markets and commodity prices have plunged since the fall of 2008. Our biggest foreign market, the United States, is suffering from a deep recession and is not expected to recover before 2010. Major corporations across the globe, from financial institutions to the automotive sector, are seeking public assistance, which in turn, places significant demands on government resources. Despite its strong financial system, the Canadian economy is now facing significant challenges. In the midst of this uncertainty, Alberta’s economy remains fundamentally strong with relatively high employment, large-scale long-term investment in the province, high incomes and a healthy business climate, all of which contribute to a h igh quality of life. However, economic growth in the province slowed to an estimated 1.5 per cent in 2008, and Alberta’s economy is now expected to decrease by 2.0 per cent in 2009. Difficulties in accessing credit and low energy prices have resulted in a number of major investment projects being delayed or cancelled. The global recession is also expected to reduce Alberta’s exports in 2009. As the global economy begins to recover in 2010, demand for Alberta’s resources is expected to strengthen and major capital investments are expected to resume. Alberta’s economy is forecast to post a modest recovery in 2010 with growth of 1.8 per cent. In the medium term, Alberta’s economy is forecast to grow at an annual rate of around 3.0 per cent, making an important contribution to Canada’s prosperity and success. Albertans and Canadians are being challenged to become more productive, globally competitive and efficient. Global markets have been exceptionally volatile over the past year — oil p rices hit a record high in mid-2008 and then declined by over 70 per cent, equity markets sustained unprecedented losses, and the Canadian dollar fell by 20 per cent in the space of a few weeks. This volatility is impacting investment, exports, business and government revenues and increases overall economic uncertainty. Global competition to improve products and services, attract investment and find new markets will intensify. All sectors, in particular those most vulnerable to commodity price and currency volatility - energy, forestry, agriculture - are facing new challenges and opportunities. Sustained long-term economic growth continues to be a particular challenge for northern and rural communities. They face some unique issues like cyclical economic patterns, and challenges to transportation and service access. Alberta’s continued success will require that we become more efficient, productive, and globally competitive. Government will lead the way with more efficient delivery of its business and services, fiscal discipline to support long-term fiscal sustainability and global competitiveness, and strategic international outreach and advocacy efforts. 2 2009-12 GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN